Written Answers Thursday 1 November 2007

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is tackling prosecutions for alcohol consumption in public places.

Frank Mulholland QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland and does so in the public interest.

  Recently published figures show that procurators fiscal have taken action in 92% of cases which involve alleged alcohol consumption in public places. The action which can be taken in each case includes issuing a warning, a fiscal fine or taking criminal proceedings in court. The Procurator Fiscal will decide on the appropriate action having considered the circumstances of the particular case as well as the wider public interest such as the concerns of the local community.

Alcohol Misuse

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency alcohol-related hospital admissions there have been in each relevant hospital in NHS Tayside in each of the last three years.

Shona Robison: Patients discharged from hospitals in NHS Tayside who came into hospital through emergency admission, and for whom there was an alcohol-related diagnosis are shown in tables 1 and 2 which have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43926).

  Table 1 shows the number of discharges of patients treated in NHS Tayside from general acute hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis (emergency admission only) by hospital in the years 2002-03 to 2004-05.

  Table 2 shows the number of discharges of patients treated in NHS Tayside from mental and psychiatric units with an alcohol-related diagnosis (emergency admission only) in the years 2002-03 to 2004-05

  Information regarding the numbers of emergency admissions for specific diagnoses is not held centrally.

Birds

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek a temporary derogation from the EU birds directive to allow the sale of resident population greylag geese shot in the open season.

Michael Russell: I am considering all possible options for future management of the greylag goose population which could include assessment of the potential benefits of securing a derogation from the European Commission under the EU Birds Directive to permit the sale of greylag goose carcasses. The survey of native greylag geese to be undertaken next year will inform consideration of all options.

Central Heating Programme

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications made by people in Fife under the central heating programme since its inception are outstanding.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Currently in the KY postcode area, which covers Fife, the managing agent has indicated that there are 613 applicants on the waiting list as at the end of September.

Central Heating Programme

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring and evaluation takes place of the delivery of the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Monitoring and evaluation is undertaken on a number of levels.

  The managing agent monitors and evaluates delivery of the work undertaken by its installer network. Post-installation inspections are carried out in 100% of cases and a process of monitoring, recording and reporting on quality is in place.

  Communities Scotland monitors and evaluates delivery of the programme by the managing agent. Monthly contract compliance meetings are held and the managing agent reports on key performance indicators and scheme adherence.

  Independent monitoring and inspection is undertaken on behalf of Communities Scotland. Monthly reports are provided on programme delivery and scheme adherence. Meetings are held to discuss key findings and identify areas of improvement.

Civil Service

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, what further discussions have been held with relevant colleagues and stakeholders on the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, from what budget funding has been allocated for the consideration of the issues related to the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service and how much has been allocated.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, whether it has made, or is in the process of making, an estimate of the cost of creating a wholly devolved Scottish civil service.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, what it estimates the cost would be of creating a devolved Scottish civil service.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, how many directorates and civil servants are involved in the consideration of the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007 in relation to the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service, when it expects its consideration of the issues and further discussions with relevant colleagues and stakeholders to be completed.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, when it intends to make an announcement about the outcome of its investigations into the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service following completion of its consideration of the issues and further discussions with relevant colleagues and stakeholders.

John Swinney: Further consideration has been given to the proposal to create a devolved Scottish Civil Service. The work to date has focussed on clarifying the issues and identifying viable options, including the financial aspects, and has included further discussions with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Cabinet Office, staff unions and other relevant interests in the Scottish Government.

  It is expected that the findings from these preliminary considerations and the options will be available for ministers to consider the next steps in the next few months.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4095 by Maureen Watt in 20 September 2007, what assessment was made of the implications for the physical accommodation requirements in schools operating at high occupancy prior to making a decision to proceed with the policy of reducing classes sizes to 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Maureen Watt: We have made clear that the pace and scale of changes which will be needed to meet our commitment to reducing primary 1 to primary 3 class sizes is subject to further discussion with COSLA and other interests. As was the case with recent class size changes, the full implications for physical accommodation will only become clearer as these discussions progress and as individual local authorities assess the situation at each school at which accommodation may be a factor.

Class Sizes

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional capital resources to implement class size reductions will be included in the announcement on the strategic spending review.

Maureen Watt: It is not appropriate to speculate on what may be included in future announcements.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that classes of 36 staffed by two teachers would be an acceptable outcome in reducing class sizes to 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Adam Ingram: Class formation is a matter for local authorities. Class size maxima of 30 were introduced in primary 1 to primary 3 by The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. Regulation 3 of these regulations allows a class of over 30 pupils provided a ratio of 30 pupils per teacher is maintained. In extremis this would allow classes of 60 provided there were two teachers. The degree of flexibility that will be permissible in meeting our manifesto commitments is a matter that will be discussed with local authorities.

Class Sizes

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received estimates from local authorities of the number of additional teaching spaces needed to fulfil its commitment to reduce class sizes to 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Maureen Watt: The Director of Education and Cultural Services at West Lothian Council has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and included an estimate of the number of class bases which could be required in connection with reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to 18. Estimates have not been received from other councils.

Communities

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to decentralise decision-making to local communities.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to doing more to empower individuals and communities to have more control over their own lives and more choice in how their needs are met. To this end, we are holding a series of meetings with a range of stakeholders who have a particular expertise in empowering communities, local community activists and community planning partners with a view to developing practical proposals. We are also considering how best to develop the role of community councils. This will include identifying pilots for supporting them to play a greater role in community planning and also for allowing them to have some control over existing spending in their area to meet specific local priorities.

Communities

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what ring-fenced funding will be available over the next three years to support Fife’s community warden programme.

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase support funding to Fife’s community warden programme so that the service can be extended to other areas of the Kirkcaldy parliamentary constituency.

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact withdrawal of ring-fenced funding would have on the community wardens who cover the regeneration areas of East Kirkcaldy and Dysart in the Kirkcaldy parliamentary constituency.

Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Executive funding to tackle antisocial behaviour is supporting community wardens in every local authority area in Scotland. It is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate funding across all their antisocial behaviour services, including community wardens, based on local needs and priorities. Future funding for antisocial behaviour services is being considered as part of the spending review.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its agencies have powers of compulsory purchase and, of these, which have used such powers in each of the last four years, also showing the general purpose in each case for using the powers.

Stewart Stevenson: Historic Scotland and Transport Scotland have the powers of Compulsory Purchase.

  I have asked Malcolm Reed, Chief Executive of Transport Scotland and John Graham, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond to you directly.

Digital Technology

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make an announcement on its plans to support the upgrading of the telephone exchange on Stronsay to allow it to meet the demand for broadband connections on the island.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is aware of the unfulfilled broadband demand in Stronsay due to capacity issues at the telephone exchange. We are aiming to deliver an upgrade with BT to this exchange by the first quarter of 2008, which will resolve the current capacity issues. All further updates will be provided on the www.broadbandforscotland.co.uk website in due course.

Digital Technology

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make an announcement on its plans to support the upgrading of the telephone exchange on Eday to allow it to meet the demand for broadband connections on the island.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is aware of the unfulfilled broadband demand in Eday due to capacity issues at the telephone exchange. We are aiming to deliver an upgrade with BT to this exchange by the first quarter of 2008, which will resolve the current capacity issues. All further updates will be provided on the www.broadbandforscotland.co.uk website in due course.

Education

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the Scottish Association for Steiner Waldorf Education since May 2007.

Maureen Watt: As indicated in my letter of 27 August to Mr McLetchie, I along with officials met representatives of the Scottish Association for Steiner Waldorf Education on 3 October.

Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop a play and communication strategy.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is developing an Early Years Strategy that will set the long-term policy direction for pre-birth to eight years. It is likely that, within that process, we will be examining strategic issues concerning play.

  We are not, however, limiting our approach to play to the early years and will consider whether further work is required once the early years strategy is complete.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the gross number of jobs (a) lost and (b) created in Scotland in each of the last five years.

John Swinney: There is no information held centrally on the number of jobs lost or created in Scotland. However, data is available on the net change in jobs over time. Table 1 shows the net change in employee jobs in Scotland in each year since 1999.

  Table 1 Annual Change in the Level of Employee Jobs, 2000-05

  

Year
Annual Change


1999-2000
66,200


2000-01
65,900


2001-02
-20,000


2002-03
27,700


2003-04
33,300


2004-05
51,700



  Source: Annual Business Inquiry.

  Notes:

  1. The data are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. ABI data are workplace based.

Energy Efficiency

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish the responses to the consultation on the draft energy efficiency and microgeneration strategy, published in March 2007.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has already published the individual responses to the strategy consultation from those organisations and individuals that gave their permission to do so. These can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/09110426/0 .

  A summary report from the consultation will be published before the end of the year.

Enterprise

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the agreement between Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Westfield Health to encourage SE staff to register for private health care.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the associated costs are of the provision of private health care by Westfield Health to staff of Scottish Enterprise.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address the concerns of Unison that public money is being used to provide private medical care through Scottish Enterprise’s private health care benefits via Westfield Health.

Jim Mather: The provision of benefits to staff within the total reward package is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

  However, my officials will raise the matter with Scottish Enterprise.

Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will receive additional funding for the responsibilities transferred to them under the recent review of the structures and functions of the enterprise network and whether this funding will be ring-fenced for economic development activities.

Jim Mather: All budgets are subject to change pending the forthcoming Spending Review. There is likely to be some alteration in the budgets of the enterprise networks and local authorities budgets to take account of the reforms but no changes will be made until the next financial year.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who will appoint members of the board of Scottish Enterprise following its reform; whether members of the board will receive remuneration, and to whom the board will report.

Jim Mather: Members will continue to be appointed to the board of Scottish Enterprise by the Scottish ministers in accordance with paragraph 5(a) of Schedule 1 of the 1990 act. Appointments will be made in line with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Board members are remunerated in accordance with the public sector pay policy for Senior Public Appointments.

  In accordance with Scottish Enterprise’s Management Statement, the board will continue to report to the Scottish ministers through the chair. The chair is responsible to the Scottish ministers and will ensure that Scottish Enterprise’s policies and actions support the wider strategic policies of the Scottish ministers and that Scottish Enterprise’s affairs are conducted with probity.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who will appoint members of the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise following its reform; whether members of the board will receive remuneration, and to whom the board will report.

Jim Mather: Members will continue to be appointed to the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise by the Scottish ministers in accordance with paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 1 of the 1990 act. Appointments will be made in line with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Board members are remunerated in accordance with the public sector pay policy for Senior Public Appointments.

  In accordance with Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s Management Statement, the board will continue to report to the Scottish ministers through the Chair. The chair is responsible to the Scottish ministers and will ensure that Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s policies and actions support the wider strategic policies of the Scottish ministers and that Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s affairs are conducted with probity.

Equal Opportunities

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided for the One Workplace Equal Rights campaign in each year since 2004.

Stewart Maxwell:

  

Year
Amount of Funding


2003-04
£29,743


2004-05
£62,675


2005-06
£102,233


2006-07
£50,052


2007-08
£15,236


Total
£259,939

Equal Opportunities

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) proportion and (b) amount of its funding for the One Workplace Equal Rights campaign in each year since 2004 was spent on using music, theatre or art to create a dialogue between equality groups, trade unions and employers, as highlighted in Mainstreaming Equality and Tackling Racism.

Stewart Maxwell: £10,732 (£3,118 in 06-07 and £7,614 in 07-08) of the Scottish Government’s funding was used to commission and produce two live theatre performances and 500 training DVDs. This represents approximately 4% of the total amount of funding provided by the Scottish Government for the project to date.

Finance

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether representations have been received from Clackmannanshire Council concerning any unforeseen costs associated with PFI schemes and, if so, what the outcomes of any discussions have been.

John Swinney: I am not aware of any recent representations made by Clackmannanshire Council concerning unforeseen costs associated with their schools PPP project.

Finance

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to PPP are available for funding major capital projects in schools, hospitals and transport.

John Swinney: There are various funding routes available to public sector organisations for major capital projects, including direct capital allocations from the Scottish Budget, the prudential borrowing regime for local authorities, and various forms of partnership delivery with the private sector. The Scottish Government is presently developing the Scottish Futures Trust initiative, which will deliver better, more efficient infrastructure for taxpayers.

Further Education

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the relocation of Inverness College to a greenfield site.

Fiona Hyslop: I understand that Inverness College recently submitted to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) an outline business case for funding to support its relocation to a greenfield site and that a decision will hopefully be made in January.

  College funding decisions are a matter for the funding council and not ministers. However, our decision to provide an extra £100 million to support college and university estates shows how serious we are about providing the resources to create world-class buildings and facilities. £60 million of that support is for colleges which we understand from the SFC will mean that the Inverness College plans can be advanced during the Spending Review 2007-10 period.

Homelessness

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was provided to Highland Council to tackle homelessness in each of the last two financial years.

Stewart Maxwell: 1. Allocations to Highland Council to tackle homelessness over each of the last two financial years includes specific grant funding from the Scottish Government in the form of the amalgamated Tackling and Preventing Homelessness Fund from 2007-08 (previously the Homelessness Task Force and Furnished Tenancies Grant) and the allocations were as follows:

  Specific Grant Funding, Tackling and Preventing Homelessness

  

Year
Funding


2006-2007
£607,697


2007-08
£613,606



  2. The progress report and local outcome agreement received by the Scottish Government Homelessness Division from Highland Council for 2006-07 indicates a number of partnerships with a variety of local agencies in delivering local homelessness services and that a number of different funding streams are sourced in implementing these services in addition to the Tackling and Preventing Homelessness Grant.

  3. Highland Council also receives general funding allocated through the core local government finance settlement. It should be noted however that the general provision does not represent actual funding but is used as a means of distributing the core local government finance settlement. The general provision in the core settlement includes Tackling and Preventing Homelessness (formerly Rough Sleepers Initiative) and General Homelessness. The allocations for the past two years were as follows:

  

Tackling and Preventing Homelessness
2006-07
2007-08


Former Rough Sleepers Initiative
161,000
163,000


General Homelessness
195,000
197,000

Homelessness

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance for local authorities is in place on the use of houses of multiple occupation to tackle homelessness.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has produced a Code of Guidance on Homelessness to which all local authorities must have regard when carrying out their duties. The code is available on the government’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/housing/homeless/guidance .

  Local authorities have flexibilities in how they discharge the duty to provide temporary and permanent accommodation for homeless people but, in respect of temporary accommodation, they must adhere to the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004. This order sets out standards which temporary accommodation for homeless households with children and pregnant women must meet.

  Such accommodation must provide adequate bedrooms and adequate toilet and personal washing facilities for the exclusive use of the household. Adequate cooking facilities must also be provided. The code indicates that these facilities must meet the local authority’s houses of multiple occupation standards.

  This requirement relates to any accommodation used for this purpose – not just houses of multiple occupation.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle hospital-acquired infections.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling healthcare associated infection (HAI). I have therefore invited the HAI Task Force to devise a new comprehensive three-year HAI Delivery Plan from 2008-09 which aligns with the findings in the Scottish Point Prevalence survey published in July. I will announce my plans in more detail as soon as possible after the spending review. The existing HAI work programme is backed with £15 million of funding until March 2008.

Housing

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fife Council will have to re-evaluate the entire Fife Structure Plan following its re-evaluation of requirements for housing development.

Stewart Stevenson: Fife Council is currently re-appraising the housing requirements in the structure plan which it submitted to ministers in 2006. It will submit the results of this process, including any resulting changes that need to be made to other parts of the structure plan, to ministers at the end of this year.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to review current legislation on the requirements to be met by developers of large-scale houses of multiple occupation, such as bedsits and hostels.

Stewart Maxwell: Revised legislation applying to all Houses in Multiple Occupation was passed by the Scottish Parliament under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. The Scottish Government expects to consult stakeholders during 2008 on whether secondary legislation will be required before bringing this new legislation into force.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it recommends should be in place for people staying in houses of multiple occupation and whether it believes that such accommodation is the most appropriate means of housing people with complex needs.

Stewart Maxwell: It is for local authorities to assess the housing needs of individuals and provide suitable accommodation according to their needs. Any housing support service accommodation receiving Supporting People funding must be registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and meet the care standards required by the commission.

  Other houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) must be licensed with the appropriate local authority. Before granting an HMO licence, the local authority will inspect the property to ensure that it is safe and that the accommodation is appropriate for the proposed number of tenants. The local authority will also ensure that the landlord is following appropriate management standards.

International Relations

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in taking forward the Scotland Malawi Partnership.

Linda Fabiani: A Joint Commission Review meeting was held with the Government of Malawi in July 2007.

  We reaffirmed our commitment to the Co-operation Agreement with Malawi and the four subject strands.

  We agreed to develop a clearer focus on activity within those strands and to identify a set of priorities for future funding.

Justice

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its on-going justice reviews.

Fergus Ewing: There are a wide range of matters currently under review, including Community Penalties, Prisons, the Shirley McKie case, DNA, the National Antisocial Behaviour Strategy and Civil Judicial Statistics.

  A table providing more detailed information on the progress with these reviews has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43948).

Leisure

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the independence of culture and leisure trusts.

John Swinney: In setting up culture and leisure trusts, local authorities are expected to ensure clear public accountability for public funds and the quality of local services, in keeping with the statutory principles of Best Value, regardless of whether they provide these services directly or set up and fund external bodies to do so. Decisions by councils about how and by whom local services are delivered and sustained are subject to scrutiny by the Accounts Commission for Scotland.

  To the extent that trusts have been established with charitable status, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has a role in monitoring their compliance with the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, which places a duty on Charity Trustees to act in the best interest of the charity, and to operate in a manner consistent with the charity’s purposes.

Leisure

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that a culture and leisure trust’s funding surplus is reinvested in the local community.

John Swinney: Local authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers are set out in statute. They are responsible for organising and funding the delivery of the services for which they are responsible in the way that they see fit.

  Where a culture and leisure trust has been set up as a charity, charity law requires that the organisation only applies its resources for its charitable purposes.

Leisure

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ring-fence the surpluses generated by culture and leisure trusts to ensure that funding raised is not used either directly or indirectly to fund local authorities’ core services.

John Swinney: There are no such plans. Local authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers are set out in statute. They are responsible for organising and funding the delivery of the services for which they are responsible.

Leisure

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of generated income and expenditure of culture and leisure trusts in each of the last three years, broken down by trust and type of income and expenditure.

John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

Lifelong Learning

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was taken of the agenda for a greener Scotland in preparing its skills strategy.

Maureen Watt: To make Scotland greener we need people with the skills, expertise and knowledge that will enable them to understand and act on these issues. That is why in preparing the skills strategy substantial advice was drawn from all portfolios of government with an interest in the skills agenda.

Local Income Tax

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be of collecting a local income tax in the Highland Council area.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4867 on 26 October 2007 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Marine Environment

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction it has given to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with regard to the EU’s mutual recognition system for medicines used in EU waters and its application to the aquaculture industry.

Michael Russell: The regulation of veterinary medicines within the UK is a reserved matter and the responsibility of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The Scottish Government has therefore not given direction to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on mutual recognition.

  The role of SEPA with regard to veterinary medicines for fish is to consider their environmental impact. SEPA minimises this by issuing discharge consents to Scottish aquaculture businesses which restrict usage to that which can be assimilated without significant detriment to the locality.

  The Scottish Government has a close working relationship with SEPA. Discussions take place during which SEPA explains its views and their underpinning science.

  Where there is a need for a veterinary medicine which has a full marketing authorisation in another member state the Scottish Government encourages the company concerned to apply to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for mutual recognition.

Modern Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when and how it intends to implement the conclusions of the recent modern apprenticeship consultation undertaken by the previous administration, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 12 September 2007 ( Official Report c. 1589).

Maureen Watt: We will be working with our stakeholders and delivery partners to fully implement the conclusions of the modern apprenticeship consultation. As this will likely involve changes to the delivery infrastructure, the new skills body (who will have operational responsibility for the delivery of the modern apprenticeship programme) will be leading on this work. I therefore anticipate this to start as soon as the new body has been established.

Money Advisers

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many money advisers funded through Executive sources there have been in each local authority area in north-east Scotland in each of the last three years.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on the numbers of money advice posts paid for through Scottish Executive funding streams is not collected on a regular basis and is available for 2005 and 2006 only. Figures for each local authority area in north-east Scotland are given in the following table.

  Total Number of Money Advisers (Full-Time Equivalent)

  

Local Authority
July 2005
July 2006


Aberdeen City
4.00
5.34


Aberdeenshire
3.80
4.30


Moray
3.50
2.75

New Year's Day Trading

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what protection it will offer to shop workers and retail staff who are compelled to work on New Year’s Day.

Kenny MacAskill: The regulation of employment rights is reserved under section H1 of the Scotland Act 1998.

  Terms and conditions of employment are a discretionary matter for employers, providing they comply with any relevant statutory requirements.

  In addition, I would point out that the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007 does not protect shop workers and retail staff from being compelled to work. It deals only with the opening of large stores. Nothing in that legislation would prevent staff being required to work on a closed day to prepare for the next trading day. So even if ministers were to pursue a ban under the act on large stores trading on New Year’s Day, it would not necessarily protect shop workers.

Physical Education

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary schools provide the recommended two hours of physical education per week, broken down by local authority.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools provide the recommended two hours of physical education per week, broken down by local authority.

Maureen Watt: A baseline study was undertaken in 2005 with results published in 2006 in a paper called Progress towards the recommendations of the Physical Education Review Group which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/PEReport2005 .

  The Scottish Government is clear that learning through quality physical education and physical activity makes an important contribution to young people’s development, both in promoting their health and wellbeing and enabling sporting success.

Police

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision not to continue the process of levelling up the funding to Grampian Police beyond the 2008-09 financial year.

Kenny MacAskill: Future levels of funding for police forces in Scotland will be determined by the outcome of the Spending Review.

Population

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age was of (a) the population of Dundee and (b) people who have migrated to Dundee in the last year for which information is available.

John Swinney: At 30 June 2006 the average age of (a) the population in Dundee City Council area, was 40 years and (b) people who have migrated to Dundee City Council in the previous year, was 27 years.

  The figure for (b) includes migrants from elsewhere in Scotland, migrants from the rest of the United Kingdom and migrants from abroad. The UN definition of an international migrant is someone who changes their country of residence for 12 months or more. Therefore, short-term seasonal migrants (likely to include some migrant workers from Eastern Europe) will not be counted in the migration estimates nor in the population estimates.

Public Bodies

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4326 by John Swinney on 26 September 2007, how it will ensure that there is balance in terms of political representation on public bodies.

John Swinney: Public appointments to regulated bodies are made under the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland and are based on the principles first adopted by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. All appointments are therefore governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit and political activity plays no part in the process. Individuals selected will be those who have demonstrated that they best match the skills, knowledge and personal qualities required for the appointment in question.

  We already monitor and publish information on those appointments who have declared a political interest and are keen to see interest from across the political spectrum in serving on public bodies.

Regeneration

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being put in place to ensure that projects dependent on the Community Regeneration Fund are sustained pending the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.

Stewart Maxwell: A decision on the future of the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) will be taken immediately following completion of the Strategic Spending Review. However, I can confirm that as an interim measure, I have instructed officials to write to all Community Planning Partnerships to inform them that in order to ensure a managed transition to new arrangements, the Scottish Government will guarantee each Partnership at least one quarter of their CRF allocation for the current year, in 2008-09.

Regeneration

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it intends to provide to local authorities for local regeneration and how this compares with the existing local regeneration budgets of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Jim Mather: Although there is likely to be some future re-alignment in the budgets of the enterprise networks and local authorities to take account of the reforms, no changes will be made in this current financial year, and so it is not possible at this time to provide the comparison requested until after the Spending Review 07 outcomes are agreed and the level of future funding is known.

Renewable Energy

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the development of the renewable energy sector in Scotland.

Jim Mather: Making the most of Scotland’s renewable energy potential will be vital to achieving our ambitions for sustainable growth, security of supply and tackling climate change.

  The First Minister has held discussions with Ofgem over transmission charging and we are continuing to make the case for a charging regime which supports rather than works against environmental objectives. We are also exploring sub-sea grid development.

  We have endorsed planning policy SPP6 and we are supporting local authorities in the urgent task of preparing planning guidance for their area.

  We are operating grant schemes for wave and tidal energy, biomass and hydrogen fuel cells – and we will ensure that there is effective support for the continued development of these technologies.

  Renewables legislation provides for higher levels of market support for wave and tidal generation than elsewhere in the UK and we are looking closely at proposals for the banding of different technologies. We will also bring forward proposals for promoting renewable heat

  We are engaging with industry and other stakeholders to address any barriers to the further development of our renewables sector, including at a community level.

Roads

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to upgrade the A1 in Berwickshire.

Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to upgrade the A1 in Berwickshire. However, the A1 is recognised as one of the nationally strategic transport corridors which will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review. This will examine the longer term needs of Scotland’s transport network to develop the investment plan for 2012 to 2022.

Schools

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to First Minister’s answers to question S3F-191 on 4 October 2007 indicating the Executive’s commitment to match the previous administration’s school building programme brick for brick and not to use the private finance initiative for this purpose ( Official Report c. 2465), whether it intends to build a new high school for Dunfermline; how it intends to finance its school building programme, and what its timescale is for the completion of any planned new schools in Fife.

Maureen Watt: It is for Fife Council to plan for the investment in or replacement of its schools and to set timescales for such work. As far as financing, nationally, of a school building programme, the Scottish Government is already working on the development of the Scottish Futures Trust initiative which we believe will deliver better value arrangements for major public infrastructure projects. Levels of funding beyond the current financial year have yet to be announced.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £40 million capital allocation for schools, announced on 17 July 2007, was already part of the budget inherited from the previous administration and was not new money.

Maureen Watt: The £40 million represents part of the total resource within the current spending review period ending in March 2008. Its allocation, which raised the total Schools Fund capital grant available to authorities this year from £106.05 million to £146.05 million, reflects the priority which we attach to reducing class sizes in P1 to P3.

Scottish Government Staff

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts, broken down by directorate.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government employs a total of 4,354 civil servants: 4,194 on permanent contracts and 160 on fixed-term contracts.

  

Directorate General
Directorate
Permanent
Fixed-Term


DG Economy and Chief Economic Adviser
DG Co-Ordination - Economy
13
 


Directorate For Planning and Environmental Appeals
37
1


Europe, External Affairs and Culture
86
3


Finance and Central Services - General
18
2


Finance Directorate
155
4


Planning
70
3


Public Service Reform Directorate
102
1


Scottish Development International
41
 


Scottish Procurement Directorate
87
 


Strategic Spending Review
4
 


Transport Directorate
90
7


DG Education
DG Co-Ordination - Education
6
 


Children, Young People and Social Care
94
 


Corporate Analytical Services
58
8


Education Information and Analytical Services
49
1


Enterprise, Energy and Lifelong Learning Analytical Services
22
1


Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
197
1


Lifelong Learning
120
2


Office Of The Chief Scientific Adviser
8
 


Schools Directorate
107
4


DG Environment
DG Co-Ordination - Environment
6
 


Climate Change and Water Industry
21
 


Environmental Quality
60
1


Greener Scotland Directorate
14
 


Marine Directorate
77
 


On The Ground Directorate
1
 


Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate
63
7


Rural Directorate
135
2


Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate
553
21


DG Health and Chief Executive NHS Scotland
DG Co-Ordination - Health
10
 


Chief Medical Officer Directorate
30
 


Chief Nursing Officer Directorate
24
 


e-Health Directorate
4
 


Health Delivery Directorate
25
 


Health Finance Directorate
52
 


Health Workforce Directorate
32
1


Healthcare Policy and Strategy Directorate
66
 


Primary and Community Care Directorate
95
1


Public Health and Wellbeing Directorate
113
3


DG Justice and Communities
DG Co-Ordination - Justice and Communities
10
1


Civil and International Justice
52
1


Constitutional and Parliamentary Secretariat Directorate
24
 


Courts Directorate
10
1


Criminal Justice
92
1


Housing and Regeneration
123
5


Judicial Appointments Board For Scotland
4
 


Office Of The Scottish Parliamentary Counsel
14
1


Police and Community Safety
154
7


Scottish Government Legal Directorate
130
24


Scottish Prisons Complaints Commission
1
1


Permanent Secretary
Change and Corporate Services
650
36


Communications Directorate
67
4


Ministerial Portfolios
65
4


Permanent Secretary's Private Office
6
 


Strategy and Ministerial Support Directorate
47
 


All
 
4,194
160

Scottish Government Staff

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it is making to its employment practices to support and encourage a better work/life balance for fathers.

John Swinney: As an employer, the aim of the Scottish Government is to help all staff achieve a satisfactory work-life balance. To this end, the opportunity to apply to work a range of flexible patterns is already available to all staff, at all grades, including fathers.

  In addition, we also offer a range of initiatives, including paid paternity leave, paid special leave and career breaks to provide additional support.

Small Businesses

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out, or intends to carry out, a regulatory impact assessment on its proposal to reduce and remove business rates to give small and medium-sized Scottish business a competitive tax position.

John Swinney: We will announce our proposals for removing or reducing business rates for small businesses in Scotland following the Scottish Spending Review. Our proposals can be implemented as part of the annual programme of secondary legislation for non-domestic rates and will not impose new regulatory burdens compared with the current small business rate relief scheme. Our proposals will also substantially benefit small and medium-sized businesses. In the circumstances, we do not consider that a regulatory impact assessment is required.

Teachers

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its review of the Chartered Teachers programme.

Maureen Watt: The Chartered Teacher Review Group are expected to report to the Scottish Ministers during November. We will publish the report, along with our response, following due consideration of its recommendations.

Terrorism Act 2000

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have taken place as a result of evidence gathered by police searches using stop and search powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 since the granting of these powers.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held.

Transport

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what initial estimates were given by ministers of the (a) cost and (b) date of completion for the (i) Stirling/Alloa/Kincardine rail line, (ii) Borders rail line, (iii) Airdrie to Bathgate rail line, (iv) Glasgow Airport rail link, (v) M74 completion, (vi) upgrade of the M80 Stepps to Haggs, (vii) M8 Baillieston to Newhouse project and (viii) A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and on what date each estimate was given.

Stewart Stevenson: Initial estimates given by ministers of the cost and date of completion are as follows:

  (i) Stirling/Alloa/Kincardine rail line

  On 12 June 2003 the Minister for Transport committed to funding Clackmannanshire Council £30 million for construction of the Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine railway, provided the Parliamentary Bill was approved. The in service date was announced as Winter 2005-06. The cost estimate given in the Private Bill being considered by Parliament at the time was £37.15 million with a tolerance of +/- 15% at Quarter 4, 2002 prices.

  (ii) Borders rail line

  On 16 March 2006, the Minister for Transport and Communications, committed to funding £115 million at 2002 prices for the Borders Railway scheme, with the rail link expected to be delivered at the end of 2011.

  (iii) Airdrie to Bathgate rail line

  In a ministerial announcement in January 2003, cost of the Airdrie to Bathgate line was estimated at £104 million with a delivery date of late 2008.

  (iv) Glasgow Airport rail link (GARL)

  On 16 March 2006, the Minister for Transport advised Parliament that he expected GARL to be delivered by the end of 2010 at a cost of £170 million to £210 million out turn.

  (v) M74 completion

  In January 2001 the then Transport Minister announced that the M74 would be taken forward as a partnership with Glasgow City, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Councils at an estimated cost of £250 million. At the time of this announcement the estimated scheme opening date was 2008.

  (vi) upgrade of the M80 Stepps to Haggs

  In January 2003, when the decisions from the Central Scotland Transport Corridors Studies were announced, the estimated capital costs of the A80 Stepps to Haggs limited upgrade was £150 million and full motorway upgrade was £200 million, operational by 2010.

  Details of the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study – Decisions can be found on the CSTCS website (www.cstcs.co.uk).

  (vii) M8 Baillieston to Newhouse project

  In January 2003, when the decisions from the Central Scotland Transport Corridors Studies were announced, the estimated capital costs of upgrading the A8 on-line was in the order of £105 million and £123 million if partially built off-line, operational by 2010.

  Details of the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study – Decisions can be found on the CSTCS website (www.cstcs.co.uk).

  (viii) A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR)

  In March 2003 the then Transport Minister announced that the AWPR would be taken forward as a partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils at an estimated cost of £120 million. At the time of this announcement the estimated scheme opening date was end 2010.

Transport

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to regulate the private car hire industry.

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans for private car hire to be regulated in a similar way to the taxi trade.

Stewart Stevenson: Legislative provisions contained in sections 10 – 23 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 provide local authorities with licensing powers allowing for regulation of both the taxi and private hire car trades.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to announce what action it will take in respect of snaring, in light of responses to the consultation having closed eight months ago.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government’s response to the snaring consultation, initiated by the previous administration, will be issued in due course, in accordance with the priorities of the Scottish Government in this area. We are well aware of the sensitivities surrounding this issue and the fact that snaring is considered an essential tool by land managers. Our proposals will be carefully considered and will take account of the strong views expressed on all sides of this debate.